Development

Transportation

Transportation Development

Transportation priorities for One Sumter include high-level objectives, such as: wayfinding and beautification; support to business and industry in terms of the transportation and mobility needs for workforce and the movement of products; public transportation; connectivity to major regional transportation hubs; and serving as the voice of the Sumter County business community when looking for regional and statewide support for transportation-related projects and funding assistance.

One Sumter’s efforts to address transportation objectives are detailed below:

  • One Sumter served as an advocate and champion for the Eaton Road project, spearheaded by the Sumter County Development Authority. The project, which will increase both access to the plant facility and ensure the safety of its workforce should an emergency situation arise, represents $631,000 of the public sector’s investment in support of sustaining the viability of private industry in Sumter County. With funding assistance from the One Georgia Authority, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Sumter County Board of Commissioners, City of Americus, and the Sumter County Development Authority, the project represents the results of community partners working together for the betterment of Sumter County’s employment base – the heart of the work of One Sumter. ​
  • Leveraging the asset that is the University of Georgia’s Archway Partnership in Sumter County, One Sumter partnered with Archway in 2016 to develop initial concepts for wayfinding signage throughout Sumter County with students and faculty from UGA’s College of Environment and Design. In an intensive public engagement process over an extended weekend in march 2016, the students heard from key stakeholders about the transportation and accessibility needs across the community in terms of creating an enhanced visitor experience through beautification, consistent icongraphy, and directional signage to locations and attractions. Implementation of the early recommendations are under consideration, while use of  the “See Sumter,” campaign continues through the Americus-Sumter County Tourism Council.
  • As part of the Locate South GeorgiaLEADS experience, One Sumter supports the awareness of regional transportation projects and priorities by designing one of the LSGL sessions to focus on regional transportation initiatives and related legislative efforts unique to South Georgia as a region. The annual November session is attended by representation from the Georgia Department of Transportation, Regional Commission Planners from across three regional service areas, and representatives of both Georgia Ports Authority and Cordele Intermodel Services.
  • Through the work of One Sumter’s Growth Task Force, strategic stakeholders identified opportunities for corridor development, trail connectivity through greenway expansion, bicycle and pedestrian planning, and blueway development along Sumter County’s creek and river networks.